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Title: SU-F-T-444: Quality Improvement Review of Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning in the Presence of Dental Implants

Journal Article · · Medical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.4956629· OSTI ID:22649035
;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3];  [4]
  1. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (United States)
  2. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, (United States)
  3. Cancer Therapy and Research Center, San Antonio, TX (United States)
  4. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX (United States)

Purpose: To quantify and compare the effect of metallic dental implants (MDI) on dose distributions calculated using Collapsed Cone Convolution Superposition (CCCS) algorithm or a Monte Carlo algorithm (with and without correcting for the density of the MDI). Methods: Seven previously treated patients to the head and neck region were included in this study. The MDI and the streaking artifacts on the CT images were carefully contoured. For each patient a plan was optimized and calculated using the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system (TPS). For each patient two dose calculations were performed, a) with the densities of the MDI and CT artifacts overridden (12 g/cc and 1 g/cc respectively) and b) without density overrides. The plans were then exported to the Monaco TPS and recalculated using Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm. The changes in dose to PTVs and surrounding Regions of Interest (ROIs) were examined between all plans. Results: The Monte Carlo dose calculation indicated that PTVs received 6% lower dose than the CCCS algorithm predicted. In some cases, the Monte Carlo algorithm indicated that surrounding ROIs received higher dose (up to a factor of 2). Conclusion: Not properly accounting for dental implants can impact both the high dose regions (PTV) and the low dose regions (OAR). This study implies that if MDI and the artifacts are not appropriately contoured and given the correct density, there is potential significant impact on PTV coverage and OAR maximum doses.

OSTI ID:
22649035
Journal Information:
Medical Physics, Vol. 43, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2016 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-2405
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English